A thirst for knowledge and a hungering curioisity are necessary elements in this fight. Find out what plagues Mrs. Burgess, and arm yourself with information.

WHAT THEY ARE A brain tumor is a mass formed by an overgrowth of abnormal cells. Something triggers a single cell's genes to change, causing it to divide out of control. Brain tumors can occur at any age, but they're most common in adults between the ages of 40 and 70 and in children between the ages of 3 and 12. (1)

WHO GETS BRAIN TUMORS? (2)
A tumor is an abnormal growth caused by cells reproducing themselves in an uncontrolled manner. Primary brain tumors occur in people of all ages. Metastatic brain tumors are much more common in adults. Primary malignant brain tumors are the second most common cause of cancer death in children up to 15 years old. They are the second most common cause of cancer death in people ages 15 to 34. They are the third most common cause of cancer death in males ages 35 to 54. In 1990, primary malignant brain tumors represented about 1.5% of all cancers diagnosed and 2% of the cancer deaths.

WHAT CAUSES A BRAIN TUMOR?
The cause of primary brain tumors is unknown. Environmental agents, familial tendencies, viral causes, and other possibilities are under investigation. Brain tumors are not contagious.

STATISTICS
Accurate statistics for the frequency and outcome of brain tumors are not available. It is estimated that in the United States in 1990, there were 20,500 new cases of primary brain tumor . New cases of metastatic brain tumor diagnosed in 1990 were estimated to be at least 20,700. The combined estimate of 41,200 new cases of brain tumor included both benign and malignant brain tumors. These statistics are based on the 1989 United States population of 249,000,000 people, and an incidence rate of 8.2 per 100,000 for primary brain tumors, and an incidence rate of 8.3 per 100,000 for metastatic brain tumors. The various types of brain tumors occur with different frequency in children and in adults.

The most common childhood tumors are:
1. Astrocytoma
2. Medulloblastoma
3. Ependymoma

The most common adult tumors are:
1. Metastatic brain tumors from lung, breast, melanoma, and other cancers
2. Glioblastoma Multiforme
3. Anaplastic (Malignant) Astrocytoma
4. Meningioma


For information on symptomps and diagnosis of brain tumors, please visit the primer.


WORKS CITED ABOVE:
1. U.S. News and World Report
(first paragraph) 2. A Primer of Brain Tumors
(all but first paragraph)

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